Present:            Nicholas A. Hay, John F. Fairbanks

Absent: Thomas P. O’Toole

CALL TO ORDER

Mr. Hay called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. at the Town Hall.

APPROVAL OF WARRANT

The following warrant was reviewed and approved:

August 18, 2008           Accounts Payable         $ 248,234.20

August 18, 2008           Payroll                          $ 155,512.65

Deduction                     $ 105,101.45

FARMER’S MARKET

Mr. Hay announced the following:

The Westminster’s Farmers’ Market will open this Friday, August 23rd from 3 to 7 pm at the Town Common on Academy Hill.  The Agricultural Commission is pleased to announce that Doug Peterson, Commissioner of the Department of Agricultural Resources will visit the Market at approximately 3:30 pm.  The Commissioner will read a Proclamation by Governor Deval Patrick pronouncing the week of August 17-23 as Farmers’ Market Week in Massachusetts.  The Commissioner will also promote the sale of agriculture specialty license plates, a portion of the proceeds of which may be designated to support our local Farmers’ Market.

250th ANNIVERSARY COMMITTEE

Mr. Fairbanks moved that the Board appoint Linda Landry to the 250th Anniversary Committee.  Mr. Hay seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

SENIOR CENTER BUILDING COMMITTEE

Mr. Hay announced that there is a vacancy on the Senior Center Building Committee.  Any resident interested in volunteering is asked to submit a letter of interest to the Town Coordinator.

CONCEPTUAL SITE PLAN AWARD

Mr. Fairbanks moved that the Board award the contract for the conceptual site plan for 69 West Main Street to Overland Design of Leominster, MA for $3,599.  Mr. Hay seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

PUBLIC HEARING – EDF APPLICATION – WESTMINSTER ANIMAL HOSPITAL

Mr. Hay read the following newspaper announcement:

The Town of Westminster will hold a public hearing to discuss the proposed Economic Development Fund Grant application for up to $350,000 for working capital for the proposed Westminster Animal Hospital and grant administration.  The Town intends to hire a private consulting firm to administer the grant.

The hearing will be held Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 7:00 P.M. in the Selectmen’s Chambers in Room 205 at the New Town Hall.  Attendance by residents is encouraged.  Any person or organization wishing to be heard will be afforded an opportunity and reasonable accommodations will be attempted upon written request to the Selectmen’s office prior to the meeting.  The room is handicap accessible.

Mr. Hay introduced John Ryan of Breezeway Farm Consulting and Mark Ransom of the Westminster Animal Hospital.

Mr. Ryan distributed a handout about the grant proposal and explained the EDF and CDBG programs, noting that there would be administrative time spent by the Town over the next three years in monitoring the performance of the company and the jobs that will be created.  However, there would be no direct costs to the town.  The Westminster Animal Hospital is a new business that will be located in the Westminster Business Park; it will be the first vet practice in Westminster, specializing in small animal care.  In addition, it will be unique in that it will be the only vet hospital in the area to offer 24/7 on call emergency care.

The proposed grant will assist the Hospital with the costs of equipment and working capital.  If funding is approved, construction would start in the Spring of 2009. The business expects to create fifteen jobs over next three years; the grant requires that at least eight of the jobs must go to individuals whose households qualify as being low and moderate income, as determined annually by HUD..    Mr. Ransom explained that a number of these jobs would be for Vet Techs, who would receive on the job training that could be used towards certification for that profession.

Police Chief Sam Albert spoke in favor of the Animal Hospital.  He commented that the Police Dept. is often asked to assist with injured animals on nights and weekends and must transport them to the nearest emergency vet facility, which is at least 40 minutes away.  Other residents asked about the construction schedule and when vet services would be available.

Mr. Fairbanks moved that the Board approve the application to the Economic Development Fund for the Westminster Animal Hospital and authorize the Board to sign the application documents on behalf of the Town.   Mr. Hay seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

CONSTELLATION NEW ENERGY

Mr. Fairbanks moved that the Board authorize Mr. O’Toole or Mr. Fairbanks to sign the contract with Constellation New Energy once all references have been checked out.  He further moved that the term be between 48 and 51 months.  Mr. Hay seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

7:29 PM RECESS

7:32 RECONVENE

PUBLIC HEARING – WESMINSTER BUSINESS PARK – PERMIT AMENDMENTS

Chuck Scott of CFS Engineering requested that the Board consider amending the WBP permit to eliminate the requirements for a police detail and also reduce the Clerk of the Work’s responsibility.

With regards to the police detail, Police Chief Sam Albert recommended that he meet with WBP and representatives from the DPW, Mass Highway, Planning Board and neighbors to come up with a recommendation and present it to the Board of Selectmen at their September 17th meeting.  The Board agreed.

Mr. Fairbanks moved to change the permit to monthly monitoring and review their decision in November with the Board reserving the right to increase monitoring if it deems necessary.  Mr. Hay seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

8:20 PM EXECUTIVE SESSION

Mr. Fairbanks moved that the Board meet in executive session to discuss pending litigation.  Mr. Hay seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously on a roll call vote.  It was noted that the Board would adjourn directly from executive session.

ADJOURNMENT

The Board adjourned from executive session at 8:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

John F. Fairbanks, Clerk

(Prepared by B. Kazan)